RYDER'S FIRST CHRISTMAS - 2011

Ryder's first Christmas was awesome!! Yeah, he really was too young to understand or get excited or even to really enjoy his presents, but I wasn't!! I loved spoiling him, I loved surprising him and I loved sharing all of the memories with my family.  

It really was the Christmas of "Plan B." It was actually our year to go to Vancouver to spend Christmas with Marty's family, but with me on maternity leave and plane tickets costing a ridiculous amount over the holidays and with Marty only having from the 24h to the 2th off, we decided to just stay in Alberta. We'd go to BC in January and spend a few days.  Ofcorse my sisters and I have it planned so that we always get to spend Christmas with Mom together, so this was also the year that Nic and Troy planned ot have Christmas with Troy's family. Fair enough.  Lucky for all of us, his Family lives close, so with a little juggling, we were able to all be together for Christmas..sort of. 

Marty and I left Calgary the 23rd, after Marty was done work. We got to Mom's late, but were up early the next morning to get ready for an afternoon at Nic and Troy's with his Family.

 Hangin' with Uncle Farn.

 Checkin' out the Farn Christmas tree.

Troy had to work at the Fire Hall Christmas Eve, so Nic came back to Mom's so she could go to church with us.  We took Ryder to his first Christmas Eve Service, comeplete with a puppet show about Baby Jesus. Marty brought him right up to the front row for that portion.  Ryder was super patient, just chillin' while we sang and celebrated the reason for the season!!

 Dressed and ready for church.

 Getting all his "play" out, with Auntie, 

before heading to church.

 Anda few pics by the tree in his cute church clothes... I had to, it was his FIRST CHRISTMAS afterall!!

 After church, as per tradition, Ryder got to open one gift. It was from Grandma, and it was the special book, one that will be read every year on Christmas Eve, before Ryder goes to bed, just like it was read to us when we were little!!!  (We miss you Dad, and the way you read this story to us!)

 Once, Ryder was in bed, the Irish Cream started flowing and for the first time, Marty and I got to play "Santa" for real!!!

 Nic, and Scout and Duke made great little elves, helping Santa!  Because Troy had to work that night and because it was the Farn's turn to spend Christmas with the Farns, we had decided to wait and have our own Family Christmas, Dec.26th when Troy could be there with us for the whole day.  That way, we could have a pretend Christmas morning, complete with stockings and all. Ofcorse, Ryder wouldn't have known the difference, but I really wanted him to have a Santa present ready under the tree on the 25th anyway.

 Voila! The dancing tower!!!!

 The night of the 25th, after Nic had spent the day with the Farns, and after Troy left for work at the Fire Hall, we had Christmas dinner...wow, I just now realized, I had my hat on all through dinner...sorry ma!! Seriously, I didn't even think about it until now!! Ooops!
The turkey, the brussel sprouts, the sweet potatoes and all the fixins were delicious!! After dinner we got Ryder dressed in his Santa suit for more photo ops. This was our Christmas Eve afterall and it was his first!!

Just before bed, we put him in his PJs and showed him how to leave cookies and milk for Santa. Ryder had to sample the cookies ofcorse, his first quick lick of frosting...hey, it's Christmas, I guess anything goes, right? he he!!!

 When we all woke up on our Christmas Morning, Dec.26th, Santa had come again for Ryder!! Troy had come over after shift, but he hadn't seen Santa. :)  This is what I love about our family, even though it wasn't real Christmas, it sure felt like it was.......

 heading to the tree  to open stockings...

 A new tradition... Christmas hats, the funnier the better!!!  Ryder and his Auntie and Uncle Farn!

 Gotta go wish the ponies "Merry Christmas" too!!

Scout got a Christmas bone that she actually shared with Ryder..eww!!

I am always sad when Christmas is over. I especially hate packing up the Christmas tunes (good bye for another 365, Kenny and Dolly Country Christmas,) but we made sure to appreciate every single moment!! Highlights were wine drinking, game playing, dancing in the kitchen, Ryder watching, thoughtful gift appreciating and just being together laughing and being loud!!  Happy Holidays!!!